Frisco Blog

An echo of fiscal pain in Frisco ISD’s strategic plan

The theme of financial sacrifice echoed through the strategic planning session, the subsequent board meeting and even the consent agenda.

The discussion at tonight’s Frisco school board meeting could have taken place in numerous planning talks across state — where to spend, how to save and what to cut.

Superintendent Rick Reedy offered to explore marketing options such as splashing buses with advertisements or offering up space on the district website. The district already allows advertising on its score boards.

Reedy warned that it might disrupt other revenue-generating options for the district, but agreed to prepare a report for the board within three months.

“There is a finite amount of dollars out there,” he said, “so if we say we are going to raise more revenue for the school district is it going to hurt the [Frisco Education] Foundation?”

The foundation raises money for scholarships.

Board member Debbie Gillespie winced at the prospect of advertising on school buses. “To me, it’s just tacky,” she said.

But the growing district’s fiscal realities have also redefined its priorities. Members agreed with a district decision to suspend out-of-state travel for student groups.

Administrators indicated also the possibility of both a tax and bond election. Richard Wilkinson, the deputy superintendent for business and operations, said the district would consider calling an election in 2013 to raise the tax rate past the legally allowable amount without voter input. He said the district might need to call a bond election in May 2014 to help fund additional campuses.

Administrators offered a bright spot with a potential one-time stipend to employees. It would help fill a hole created by the suspension of pay raises. McKinney school district has implemented a similar plan. The money could go to employees this year if the board agrees to tweak the budget.

The meeting ended much the way it started, with — you guessed it — finances. “It’s incumbent upon us as a district to figure out which lawsuits to join,” Reedy said, about plans swirling across the state to rectify state funding for schools.